Court Jails Two Terror!sm Kingpins 15 Years Each, Sentences Chinese National Over Illegal Gun
Court Jails Two Terrorism Kingpins 15 Years Each, Sentences Chinese National Over Illegal Gun
Two men identified as Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi were convicted on three counts bordering on terrorism, providing logistics to a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Kebbi State Police Command has secured the conviction of 19 people for terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and vandalism of electricity infrastructure following a 17-month investigation and prosecution at the Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, the judgment was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Gakko of the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division, following investigations into criminal activities in Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba and other security flashpoints across the state.
Two men identified as Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi were convicted on three counts bordering on terrorism, providing logistics to a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“In the most significant conviction, two terrorism kingpins, Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, were found guilty on three counts of terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the statement said.
“The duo were intercepted along Yauri Road while driving a vehicle specially acquired to convey kidnap victims to their forest hideout. They were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count.
“The court further ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government, having established them as instruments and proceeds of terrorism.”
In a separate case involving illegal firearms, 11 people were convicted for unlawful possession of weapons, with police recovering 11 assorted firearms, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and dane guns.
Among those convicted was Ripin Liu, a Chinese national arrested with a locally made Beretta pistol. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine, while Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, also known as Banki, received a four-year jail term without an option of a fine.
Abubakar Siddi was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine. Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula and Abubakar Usman also received three-year sentences without the option of a fine.
Buba Alhaji Umaru, who was arrested in Bagudo Local Government Area after allegedly crossing from a neighbouring country with a locally fabricated pistol, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. John Zweme received two years and six months’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine, while Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine.
The command also secured convictions against six people accused of vandalising and stealing electricity cables in Sakaba Local Government Area.
The police said the activities disrupted electricity supply and plunged affected communities into darkness, while the convicts received prison terms ranging from three to eight years.
Reacting to the judgments, the Commissioner of Police, Umar M. Hadejia, said the convictions demonstrated that criminal activities would attract consequences. He described the 17-month process from arrest to conviction as evidence of the command’s determination to pursue complex cases until their conclusion.
Hadejia commended Justice Gakko for his handling of the cases and praised the investigators and prosecuting counsel for their work in securing the convictions.
The police commissioner also vowed to sustain operations against terrorism, iLlegal firearms possession and economic sabotage across Kebbi State. He urged residents to report suspicious movements and activities to the police, assuring them that credible information would receive prompt attention.
The convictions come as security agencies continue efforts to tackle terrorism, the circulation of illegal weapons and attacks on public infrastructure, which threaten the safety of residents and the delivery of essential services.
